New vessel contracts for Damen

09 Nov 2017

New Damen ASD 3212 Tugs

Damen recently announced signings to build two large ferries for the Ontario Government, four tugs for projects in Australia and Oman and two Antarctic landing barges for the Australian Antarctic Division

Ferries - the two “road” ferries – a 98-metre Damen Road Ferry 9819 and a 68-metre Damen Road Ferry 6819 - will be designed, built and delivered to Lake Ontario, where they will operate in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes.

Although one vessel is 30 metres longer than the other they will share many design features and equipment specifications. Both will also be hybrid-ready, enabling them to be fitted with batteries when required. Both vessels are being designed in-house by Damen and will be fully customised for the local infrastructure.

Tugs - Towage and marine services company Smit Lamnalco has ordered four Damen ASD 3212 tugs - all for delivery next year.

Making the announcement at the Europort Exhibition in Rotterdam, Smit Lamnalco CEO Mauro Fernando Sales said: “We decided to invest in four new Damen ASD tugs following the recent award of two important contracts – one in Australia and the other in Oman. Smit Lamnalco, headquartered in Rotterdam, has been a longstanding client of Damen Shipyards and has 55 Damen vessels in its fleet.

Barges - Tasmanian company, Taylor Bros has been contracted by Damen to deliver two icebreaker landing barges for the Australian Antarctic Division’s RSV Nuyina, that is currently being built at Damen Shipyards Galati, in Romania.

The barges, which are being designed, engineered and built locally, by local workers, will carry 45.5 tonne trucks from ship to shore on a continuous basis, giving the new icebreaker an unprecedented capability for unloading and reloading. The construction process of the barges will complete in 2020, when the RSV Nuyina begins her operations, replacing the current vessel, the Aurora Australis.

Roland Briene, Damen Area Director Asia Pacific, said of the barge contract award: “This contract with Taylor Bros demonstrates Damen’s strong conviction in the maxim ‘think global, act local’. Wherever we operate in the world we work closely with local suppliers and service providers, participating in knowledge sharing initiatives that work in the interests of all parties. Taylor Bros was a natural choice for this contract, having delivered a number of projects to the AAD previously. Tasmania in general has an excellent reputation for being one of the most effective manufacturing, supply and support bases for Antarctic research.”